Radio City Christmas Spectacular Details

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular has long been a family favorite Christmas tradition. Started in 1933, the lavish stage show features the precision dance troupe the Rockettes. This lively, joyous show is filled with beautiful, intricate costumes, colorful sets, and this year it features a few technology-driven changes that are certain to enhance the already amazing experience for the audience.

The Rockettes are best known for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and it’s no surprise why this show is the “must see” event of the Christmas season. The audition process is rigorous, with 500-600 hopeful dancers auditioning every August for 80 positions in the company. But their enthusiasm for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular doesn’t stop there. The Rockettes practice 6 hours a day, 6 days a week for the 6 weeks before the show opens. They are dedicated to perfection, and it shows.

There are up to 16 shows in a week, and sometimes 5 in one day. Each performance requires 40 performers out of the 80 members of the company. Even divided between two groups, the schedule is quite demanding. But the Rockettes take it in stride, bringing their shining smiles and their perfect execution of the legendary choreography to every performance without fail. They are truly an amazing dance company, and it’s easy to see why the Radio City Christmas Spectacular has been a cherished Christmas tradition for so long.

The costumes themselves are just as remarkable as the dancers, the attention to detail as important as every other aspect of the show. There are 1300 costumes in every 90-minute show, and during the season, 15,000 of the iconic red dots are applied to the cheeks of the Rockettes for the beloved song “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers”. Every piece of every costume is made to enhance the audience’s experience, right down to the tiny, wireless microphones attached to their tap shoes during the “Rag Dolls” number.

While there are many long-standing traditions in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, this season the show comes to life in a new and exciting way that long-time fans are sure to notice. The technology has been updated, making this season’s show a completely immersive experience for audience members seated in the first row to the mezzanine. The details of all that upgrade entails are a closely guarded secret, but this change is sure to bring this already spectacular show to the next level and beyond.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Dates

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular opens November 10th, 2017 and closes January 1st, 2018. Showing at Radio City Music Hall, there are multiple showings most days, giving audiences plenty of opportunity to enjoy the show during the busy holiday season.

Target Audience

As with many Christmas shows, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is meant for families and is suitable for all ages. The transition from one number to the next is seamless, keeping the littlest fans enchanted from the first number to the final curtain. Parents will want to keep in mind that this show runs straight through with no intermission, so children should be able to sit quietly for an extended period of time.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Runtime

Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs 90 minutes and there is no intermission. As with any live show, it could run slightly shorter or slightly longer.

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